to do more than shout the warning. But you'll allow me that, won't you?"
"I wish to goodness I'd been put somewhere under you."
"That woudn't be very much use. We can't do such a tremendous lot for each other, old fellow. And if we try we perhaps make things worse."
He was thinking of something which had been done to himself under the name of help. Slicker saw the shade on his face, and the crust of these latter days split through completely.
"You know—sometimes when I used to hear you and Jennifer yarning about all kinds of things—or when you used to get on to Dick, and the old beggar would smoke and grin quietly till he had you up on your feet—then I felt that I—that I wanted to—to go out and do some of the big things that fellows did in the old days. I did really, Tempest. And now—to have nothing to do. It's knocked the bottom out of all my ideas. It's a rotten life."
"There's the army that pushes the trail through into the enemy's country, and there are the details who guard the line. They are of equal importance." Tempest smiled. "You may not have to be a detail for long," he said. "But if you are you must remember that you're necessary or you wouldn't be here. I mentioned to Cordy that he wasn't exactly the man I'd choose for an intimate friend, and he may profit by the hint or he may take his revenge out of you. But more probably he won't do either. I'm going straight to Regina now, and I'll see what I can do there. But if I can't do anything, you remember, Slicker, that Cordy is better as an enemy than as a friend." Tempest screwed his face up as though he tasted something unpleasant. "He's a highly-specialised and refined beast," he said. "And they're the worst sort. I hate to know that there are such fellows in the Force. It gives some people a chance to call us a refuge for derelicts; though, thank Heaven, I don't think there are many like him."
Tempest did not forget his promise when he came to report to the Commissioner at Regina three weeks later. He touched on the matter lightly, with an apology.
